Going without insurance is never smart — just one incident can ruin your finances. The solution? Buy insurance when you don’t need it in order to save money later. “Insurance protects you against the unexpected,” says Jeanne Salvatore, Senior Vice President of Consumer Affairs for the Insurance Information Institute, “that’s why everyone needs to have certain policies.” Here’s a guide to the insurance products you need most:

Insure your health.
No matter what your age, it’s vital to have health insurance.
What it does: Health insurance covers you against any medical injuries or illnesses.
What to look for in a policy: Your best bet is a policy with a major medical limit of two to three million or more, since medical expenses can skyrocket when you’re ill or injured. You’ll also want a reasonable out of pocket maximum, say, $1,500 or so, on things like deductibles and co-payments, so that you don’t get stuck paying a fortune if you do become ill.
Where to get it: If you’re employed, it’s likely you’ll be offered insurance at work. If you’re unemployed or self-employed, you’ll want to purchase a policy on your own, and you can do that with almost any insurer.